Reversible electrical connector



Jan. 6, 1953 cs. c. PRICE 2,624,776

REVERSIBLE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Filed Nov. 19, 1951 Y 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Fig.3

I"; 65 \II Garfield C. Pri

INVENTOR Jan. 6, 1953 ca. c. PRICE REVERSIBLE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Nov. 19, 1951 5 T I f w LHO- Q E 9 2 7/l/l/l/l/l/ 9 8 2 4 8 9 m a g 7 I. m n u, H. j m E 4 6 O 6 6 3 4 0 4 7 5 w 6 0 a M m P m w m m H Q m a Garfield C. Price INVENTOR.

Patented Jan. 6, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE REVERSIBLE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Garfield C. Price, Gary, Ind.

Application November 19, 1951, 'SerialNo'. 256,987

6 Claims. 1

This'invention relates-to anelectrical .connector and particularly to a dual" purpose cone nector for connecting to' either a screw base-or a standard plug outlet.

In the operation of electrical appliances about the home and other places it is usually custom ary to plug the appliance into a customarywall outlet having a pair of spaced'apart slots into which conducting prongs extendto make contact with conductors safely hidden behind an insulating surface. However, it isfrequently desirable to utilize the appliance at a place'where there is no customary plug-in receptacle but" one house will have a screw base receptacle.

while the other will have the standard plug-in device.

The present invention provides a dual purpose:

plug which may be shifted to operate in either type of receptacle.

An apparatus according to the invention comprises a substantially cylindrical body of insulatingmaterial having a tubular bore'in which Likewise, when the apparatus is" carried'from house to house for demonstration or other purposes it is fr'equentlyfound that isconcealed a slidable plug one end of which.

is'provided with a screw receptacle while the other'end' is provided with a pair of extended prongs-for connection to the standard wall plug.

The plug is mounted on trunnions secured in' telescoping connectors so that the plug may be extended out of the insulatingbody and arranged in: a desired position -after" which= it will be returned .sto the body and locked in place in either. .of. the desired positions.

Itisxaccordingly'an object 'of this'invention to provide an improved connector.

Itxisz: aafurthenobjectof this invention v to provide-a connector which may--be favorablyusedweither asa screw-in device or as a-plug -in device.

It isia furtherobject: of this :inventio'n'to pro-- vide" a. dualpurpose connector having safetylock thereon;

It is-afurther-object of this invention to pro-' videa dual purposeplugwhichis completely closed and safeagainst accidental damage.

Other objects and inany -of -the"attendant" ad vantagesof'thisinvention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken-in conjunction: with-the accompanying drawings in which?" Figure 1 'is a'n elevationof the connector according. tothe: invention;v

Figure 2'iisiian; end viewof "the connector according 1to* the invention;

Figure 3'. is rra.--sectiona1 elevationof the connector -taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line 3-:'3; of Figure 1;

Figure 4 "is-a'view 'similar-rto Figure :3 showing the plug reversed;

Figure fi isa view-similar to Figure 3 showing theplug extended into selecting position;

Figure-:disa "cross section through the con nector taken substantiallyon'the'plane indicated by'th'e liiie-6--6 of' Figure 3;

Figure 7 is: accrosesection taken-substantially "on'tlie plane-indicated bytheline 1--1 of Figure' 3;

Figure8 is an'enlargedperspective view of the guide members; and

Figure" 9 isanenlarged perspective view of the Wshaped-connector which slides in the guide members.-

In the exemplary'embodiment of the invention.

according to the drawings, the plug-in device comprises .a substantially cylindrical body constructed of suitable :insulating material such as a 'thermo-setting plastic; erably provided with a reduced" end portion 52 and has anzaxialibore, l4 'extending 'therethrough, the bore I4inthe reducedportion I2 is of relativelysmall size andis-intended for the purpose'of'iadmitting 'an electrical conductor such asa pair. of. twisted wires 16. The opposite end of" the bore is enlarged'as-atlB, the junction between:- the enlarged bore 18 and the axial bore 1 l4 providing a. substantially flat shoulder 20. Apair of opposed channels 22 and 24 extend from the end of the body down to the shoulder 20. Each of the channels 22 and 24 is provided with a'narrow slot Hand 28 extendingfrom' therectangular. channels 22 .and 24 to the exterior'ofthe body Ill.

Substantially rectangular metallic guide members 30- and "-32 are secured in the channels 22 and and have projecting terminals 34 and 35 which overlie the surface of the shoulder 25 and"extend substantially into the region of the bore I4.- Connectors 38 and 40 are'provided on the-terminals 34' and 36 so that the wires'lfi maybe attached to the respective terminals.

U-shaped' connectors 42 and M are-slidably engaged in the rectangular guides 22 and 24. The guides 22 and 24 are provided with external slots 46 and 48 and projections 50 and 52 are attached to the outer legs of the U-shaped members 42 and 44 and extend through the slots 46 and 48 to be engaged for a purpose presently to be described.

The projections 50 and 52 extending through the slots 46 and 48 are provided with relatively enlarged base portions 54 and 56 which engage enlargements 58 of the base of the slots 46 and 48. The expansible nature of the U-shaped members causes the enlarged portion of the extensions 50 and 52 to spring outwardly and engage the enlarged openings 58 so that the U- shaped members are locked at the telescoped position in the guides 30 and 32. In order to slide the U-shaped members 42 and 44 in the guides 30 and 32 extensions 62 and 64 are provided on the enlarged projections of the U-shaped members and extend outwardly through the slots 46 and 48 and also through the slots 26 and 28 in the insulating material. Insulating buttons 66 and 68 are secured to the ends of the projections 62 and 64 by means of insulating pins 63 and 65. The U-shaped connectors can then be slid in the guides by depressing the buttons 66 and 68 to force the enlarged base portion out of the looking opening 58 so that the extensions 62 and 64 ma slide in a relatively narrow guide opening in the guide members and in the insulating shell.

Preferably the interior of the bore I8 is provided with an insulating lining 12 which extends substantially the full length or the enlarged bore and has a pair of opposed slots 14 and 16 for en gagement with trunnions I8 and 80 which are journaled in the outer ends of the U-shaped connectors 42 and 44. A substantially cylindrical plug 82 is mounted on the trunnions I8 and 80 and has a pair of parallel extending conductors 84 and 86 embedded in the insulating material. The trunions 18 and 80 extend into the plug and make metallic contact with the respective conductors 84 and 86 so that as shown the conductor 84 is connected through the trunnion 18 to the connector 42 and then through the guide 30 and terminal 34 to the connector 38 and one of the wires of the conductors I6. Likewise, conductor 86 is connected through trunnion 80 to the U-shaped connector 44 to the guide 32, the terminal 36 and the connector 40 and the other wire of the conductor I6.

The conductors 84 and 86 extend in spaced parallel relation from one end of the plug 82 to provide the well-known plug terminals for connection with the usual wall outlet. The opposite end of the plug 82 is provided with screw threads 90 the surface of which is covered by a band of conducting material 88. One of the conductors such as 86 is electrically connected to the conducting band 88 which serves as a regular screw thread connector for connecting into a screw base. A terminal 92 is provided axially of the end of the plug 82 and the opposite conductor 84 is electrically connected to the terminal which in turn connects to the middle connector of the usual screw base.

As will be apparent from an inspection of the drawing the U-connectors 42 and 44 are extended at which time the plug may be turned on the trunnions 78 and 80 to any desired position after which the connectors 42 and 44 are returned to their position so that the locks on the members 42 and 44 engage the slots in the guides 30 and 32 to lock the plug in a selected position. Preferably a disc of insulated material is applied in the bottom of the bore I8 to prevent accidental connection between any portion of the plu and the connectors on the shoulder 20.

The safety cover I00 is provided on the open end of the bore I8 and is secured to the body I0 by means of suitable fasteners herein indicated as screws I02 and I04. The cover I00 is provided with arcuate slots I06 and I68 so that the cover may be rotated a fraction of a turn on the body I0. The cover I00 is likewise provided with a pair of rectangular passages H0 and I I2 which in one position of the cover I00 are in communication with the ends of the guides 30 and 32 so that the U-shaped members 42 and 44 may be projected through the safety cover. Also when the U-shaped members are retracted the safety cover may be turned and secured in position to provide a second look for the U-shaped connectors. The safety cover I00 is provided with a depending skirt II 4 which extends over the edge of the body I0 and preferably extends substantially the full length thereof and is provided with oppositely disposed slots which register with the openings H0 and H2 so that the buttons 66 and 68 may slide therein when it is turned in registry with the lateral slots 26 and 46 and when the cover is tuned to safety position the body skirt II4 will cover the slots in the side of the connector so that it will be impossible for a person to get any portion of the body in contact with the guides or U-shaped members or to extend metal objects such as pins, coins etc., into the slots.

It will thus be seen that the present invention provides a safety feature in that the sliding U- shaped connectors are doubly locked so that there is no possibility of accidental extension of the U-shaped connectors so that they can be touched by a person. Likewise, all portions of the device that are alive are completely covered by insulating material when in use so that it is im possible for any person to accidentally touch or project any conducting material into contact with a conducting portion of the connector. The device may be readily unlocked and the connectors projected so that the plug of either type may be selected at will.

While for purposes of exemplification a particular embodiment of the invention has been shown and described according to the best present understanding thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the true spirit of the invention.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A dual purpose electrical connector comprising a substantially cylindrical body of insulating material, there being an axial passage through said body, said passage being enlarged at one end providing a shoulder intermediate the ends of said passage, oppositely disposed longitudinal channels in the sides of said enlarged bore, a slot connecting each of said channels to the outside of said body, substantially rectangular guide members in each of said channels, each guide member having a longitudinal slot communicating with the corresponding slot 1n said body, an inwardly extending terminal on said guide member, said terminals overlying said shoulder, a U-shaped connector slidably mounted in each of said guide members, a plug member, a pair of conductors embedded in said plug, a trunnion mounted in each of said U- shaped-connectors, said trunnions extending in"- to said plug, the respective trunnions being con-*- nected' to separate conductors, said conductors extending in spaced parallel relation'from one end of said plug;

2. A dual purpose electrical connectorcomprising a substantially cylindrical body of insulating material, there being an axial passage through said body, said passage being enlarged at one end providing a shoulder intermediate the ends of said passage, oppositely disposed longitudinal channels in, thesides of said enlarged bore, a slot connecting each of said channels to the outside of said body, substantially rectangular guide members in each'of saidchannels, each guide member having a longitudinal slot communicating with the corresponding slot in said body, an inwardly extending terminal on said guide member, said terminals overlying said shoulder, a U-shaped connector slidably mounted in each of said guide members, a plug member, a pair of conductors embedded in said plug, a trunnion mounted in each of said U- shaped connectors, said trunnions extending into said plug, the respective trunnions being connected to separate conductors, said conductors extending in spaced parallel relation from one end of said plug, a band of conducting material on a threaded portion of said plug, one of said conductors being connected to said band, an axially disposed contact on the end of said plug, the other of said conductors being connected to said contact.

3. A dual purpose electrical connector comprising a substantially cylindrical body of insulating material, there being an axial passage through said body, said passage being enlarged at one end providing a shoulder intermediate the ends of said passage, oppositely disposed longitudinal channels in the sides of said enlarged bore, a slot connecting each of said channels to the outside of said body, substantially rectangular guide members in each of said channels, each guide member having a longitudinal slot communicating with the corresponding slot in said body, an inwardly extending terminal on said guide member, said terminals overlying said shoulder, a U-shaped connector slidably mounted in each of said guide members, a plug member, a pair of conductors embedded in said plug, a trunnion mounted in each of said U-shaped connectors, said trunnions extending into said plug, the respective trunnions being connected to separate conductors, said conductors extending in spaced parallel relation from one end of said plug, a band of conducting material on a threaded portion of said plug, one of said conductors being connected to said band, an axially disposed contact on the end of said plug, the other of said conductors being connected to said contact, a tubular insulating lining in said bore, said lining having slots to receive said trunnions.

4. A dual purpose electrical connector comprising a substantially cylindrical body of insulating material, there being an axial passage through said body, said passage being enlarged at one end providing a shoulder intermediate the ends of said passage, oppositely disposed longitudinal channel in the sides of said enlarged bore, a slot connecting each of said channels to the outside of said body, substantially rectangular guide members in each of said channels, each guide member having a longitudinal slot communicating with the corresponding slot in said :body; an inwardly extending terminal-on' said guide member, said: terminals. overlying -said shoulder; apushaped; connector slidably mountediineach of said guide members, a .plug mem ber;1a pair of conductors embeddedin said plug, a trunnionimounted in'each of said Ueshapedv connectors, said trunnions extending into said plug; ,theyrespective trunnions being connected to:separateconductors, said conductors extendinginspaced parallel relation from one end of, saidziplug, a band of conducting material on a threaded portion of said plug, one of said conductors being connected tosaid band, an axially disposed con-tact on the end of. said plug, the

other of said conductors being connected to said contact, a tubular insulatinglining in said bore, said-.lininghaving slots to receive said trunnions, an annular guard of insulating material mounted on the end of said body, said guard having openings through which said U-shaped connectors can be extended.

5. A dual purpose electrical connector comprising a substantially cylindrical body of insulating material, there being an axial passage through said body, said passage being enlarged at one end providing a shoulder intermediate the ends of said passage, oppositely disposed 1ongitudinal channels in the sides of said enlarged bore, a slot connecting each of said channels to the outside of said body, substantially rectangular guide members in each of said channels, each guide member having a longitudinal slot communicating with the corresponding slot in said body, an inwardly extending terminal on said guide member, said terminals overlying said shoulder, a U-shaped connector slidably mounted in each of said guide members, a plug member, a pair of conductors embedded in said plug, a trunnion mounted in each of said U-shaped connectors, said trunnions extending into said plug, the respective trunnions being connected to separate conductors, said conductors extending in spaced parallel relation from one end of said plug, a band of conducting material on a threaded portion of said plug, one of said conductors being connected to said band, an axially disposed contact on the end of said plug, the other of said conductors being connected to said contact, a tubular insulating lining in said bore, said body having slots to receive said trunnions, an annular guard of insulating material mounted on the end of said body, said guard having openings through which said U-shaped connectors can be extended, coupling means extending through said guard into said body, said guard having arcuate slots engaging said coupling means whereby said guard may be shifted to place said openings out of register with said U-shaped connectors.

6. A dual purpose electrical connector comprising a substantially cylindrical body of insulating material, there being an axial passage through said body, said passage being enlarged at one end providing a shoulder intermediate the ends of said passage, oppositely disposed longitudinal channels in the sides of said enlarged bore, a slot connecting each of said channels to the outside of said body, substantially rectangular guide members in each of said channels, each guide member having a longitudinal slot communicating with the corresponding slot in said body, an inwardly extending terminal on said guide member, said terminals overlying said shoulder, a U-shaped connector slidably mounted in each of said guide members, a plug member, a pair of conductors embedded in said plug, a trunnion mounted in each of said U-shaped' connectors, said trunnions extending into said plug, the respective trunnions being connected to separate conductors, said conductors extending in spaced parallel relation from one end of said plug, one 01' said conductors being connected to said band, an axially disposed contact on the end of said plug, the other of said conductors bein connected to said contact, a tubular insulating lining in said bore, said body having slots to receive said trunnions, an annular guard of insulating material mounted on the end of said body, said guard having openings through which said U-shaped connectors can be extended, coupling means extending through said guard into said body, said guard having arcuate slots engaging said coupling means whereby said guard REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 747,553 Kelsey Dec. 22, 1903 2,284,231 Price May 26, 1942 

